I Knocked Out My Tooth! What Should I Do?

Knocking out a tooth due to an injury or accident can be stressful, but it doesn’t always mean that you will need to go on without it. With proper emergency action, your tooth can be replanted and last for many years to come. As alarming as the situation can be, if you act quickly and calmly, you are much more likely to be able to have your mouth restored back to normal. Here are the steps you should take if you have a knocked-out tooth until you make it to your emergency dentist in Hampton.

Find Your Tooth

Don’t leave your tooth at the site of the incident. Locate it immediately and pick it up. Be sure handle it up by the crown and avoid the root. You don’t want to cause any further damage to the root by accidently applying too much pressure. This makes replanting the tooth is much less likely.

Clean the Tooth

Once you have found your tooth, use water to gently rinse off any dirt. You shouldn’t use any type of soap or chemicals. Avoid drying or scrubbing the tooth and don’t wrap it in a tissue or cloth. For a tooth to be replanted successfully, it must stay moist.

Return the Tooth to Its Socket

As soon as you can, try to place your clean tooth back into its socket. Position it above the socket and gently push it in with your fingers. The tooth should be held in place by either your hand or by gently biting down on it.

If you are unable to place your tooth back in its socket, it is crucial that you keep it moist in another way. You could either place it in your mouth next to your cheek or put it in a small container of milk. Don’t use regular tap water for this because the root surface cells cannot handle this for an extended period of time.

See Your Emergency Dentist

You need to make your way to your emergency dentist as soon as you possibly can. You are most likely to save the tooth if you can be seen within 30 minutes of the injury. However, it is still possible to save a tooth even after it has been outside of the mouth for an hour or more.

If your tooth has been knocked out, don’t panic. Just gather yourself and head to the emergency dentist as soon as possible. You’ll have your smile restored in no time!

About the Practice

At Oceanside Family Dental in Hampton, NH, you have a general dentist and periodontist who are prepared to offer families everything they need in one convenient location. Dr. Neelima Ravi completed her Doctor of Dental Medicine in 2005 and is currently involved in the Academy of General Dentistry’s Master Track Program. Dr. Charles R. Braga pursued his Doctor of Dental Medicine at Harvard and is currently a member of the American Academy of Periodontology. If you have knocked out your tooth, the team will do everything they can to help you as soon as possible. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit their website or call (603) 926-1551.